Futurist Conditions: Imagining Time in Italian Futurism

Italian futurism focused on diverse types of motion, but the camera was the primary invention against which many futurist ideas and practices were measured. Futurist Conditions argues that futurist visual artists reoriented the dehumanizing effects of mechanized imagery toward more humanizing, spiritual aims.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Italian futurism, a vibrant artistic movement of the early 20th century, embraced a wide range of motion, driven by the kinetic and vehicular forces of modernization. However, as David Mathers' comprehensive scholarship reveals, it was the camera, rather than the engine, that became the primary invention against which futurist ideas and practices were measured. This groundbreaking perspective challenges previous misconceptions about Italian futurism's focus on the disruptive and destructive aspects of technology. In his book, "Futurist Conditions," Mathers presents a refreshing update to the historical narrative by highlighting how futurist visual artists reoriented the potentially dehumanizing effects of mechanized imagery toward more humanizing and spiritual aims. Through a meticulous analysis of the artworks and writings of Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, and the Bragaglia brothers, dating back to the early years of the movement's founding in 1909, Mathers explores their fascination with kinetic motion. A pivotal moment in this debate occurred in 1913, when the Bragaglias were expelled from the futurist circle due to their emphasis on photography. However, this expulsion sparked a range of productive responses by other futurist artists to the world-changing social, political, and economic conditions of the time. Mathers' book offers a comprehensive exploration of the artistic and intellectual developments of Italian futurism, shedding new light on the movement's enduring influence on contemporary art and culture.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350282773